Month: September 2015

There is a great war being waged against women and girls on this planet. That war is sexism (that one sex is superior to the other and should dominate economically, politically, and socially) and misogyny (hatred, contempt or dislike of women and girls and is manifested in many ways, sexual discrimination such as violence, degradation, sexual objectification). In the last year, I have began studying the subject of sexism and misogyny, how it affects women and girls in general, and particularly black women and girls. My research and real life experiences and observations has helped me to see that this is a very SERIOUS SERIOUS problem on this planet and I did not realize how seriously sexist and misogynist beliefs and behaviors are soooo entrenched in sooo many people across race, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, religion, socio-economic status, etc. to the point where it is many times dismissed, ignored, and denied. Women and girls are subjected to harm, death, misery, strife, denied educational and economic opportunities, and just a life full of enrichment and purpose just because of these beliefs and behaviors. Society and the media teaches us to devalue women and girls, thus sexism and misogyny is taught to us. We either internalize sexism and misogyny subconsciously, unconsciously, or consciously. The So-called Black Community is silent, resistant, and in denial about the truth and dangers of misogynoir. Try and talk about it and many Negroes are either silent, ignorant, resist or deny. Then comes derailments and deflections. Many Black People believe that sexism and misogyny is not a problem in the Black American Community and the African Diaspora in general. It’s very sad (and frighting) how many Black People walk around as if it is not a MAJOR problem while many Black Women and Girls are suffering in silence physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually because of it . It became a problem when Black Men came into contact with White Men and internalized White Supremacist thought and behaviors towards other Black People and Black Women and girls. Black Men are not the only ones in the Black Community that are misogynoirist towards Black Women and Girls. Many Black Women and Girls are also misogynoirist towards Black Women and Girls (internalized misogynoir). So I am making it very clear that I am not placing blame on solely Black Men and not all Black Men. I am woman enough to admit that I most definitely have been misogynoiristic towards other Black Women and Girls at times growing up and in my young adult life. Once a Black person learns he or she may harbor misogynoiristic attitudes and practice misogynoiristic behaviors it’s in his or her best interest to work on correcting those attitudes and behaviors for the sake of oneself and the entire Black Community.

Not only is this about getting back to gender equality (like it was in African societies so long ago) in today’s black community and the Diaspora it’s about equally valuing our women and girls like we value our men and boys. It’s just sooo sad how black women and girls have been crying out and begging the so-called black community to talk about and understand this for years and years, but their (and our) cries have and still are falling on deaf ears. Take it from a Black Woman on Tumblr:

I don’t understand why we’re so comfortable with misogynoir in the black community but………………. Nevermind, let me zip it for now 🙂

When Black Feminists/Womanist or other Black Women and Girls speak truthfully about the very,very sexist and misogynistic so-called black community, emotions go through the stratosphere and the conversation gets derailed, deflected, or ignored all together. These women are showered with outrageous claims such as “you’re and agent of white supremacy” “you’re anti-black man” or “you’re conspiring with the white man.” [HAHAHAHA! smh].

A sista on tumblr also gave a rundown on how (too) many black men respond to when Black Women talk about misogynoir:

I’m sure it’ll go like this…

Bitter black bitch…

Hoe…

A few more bitches and hoes thrown around…

White supremacy supporter…

White men oppress you more than us, so ignore the misogynoir we perpetuate…

Bed wench

Claims feminism destroyed the black family because of white women (while ignoring their hand in black misogynoir, sexism and patriarchy that’s been a problem in the community)…

More bitches and hoes…

Somehow throw in single mothers…

Divisive this, divisive that…

Still purposely choose to be oblivious to misogynoir…

Throws around true Queens, real Queens nonsense…

Ends it with more name calling because they refuse to acknowledge their misogynoir, without knowing they proved the point of misogynoir

This meme is hateful and divisive. Not what Black Feminism/Womanism is about.

Misogyny dehumanizes women in, general. Anti-Black misogyny (which functions because of racism, sexism and White supremacy) makes Black women “not human” and thereby worthy of hatred and abuse yet White women the standard of humanity that Black women should aspire to. Misogyny makes men’s “natural” angered reactions to women include the word “bitch” where their privilege and power makes it different from women who seek to reclaim that word and use between each other. Anti-Black misogyny creates other oppressive slurs, where even “black” itself becomes a pejorative. “Black bitch.” “Nigger bitch.” Misogyny explains the slut shaming of Miley Cyrus. Anti-Black misogyny makes Miley Cyrus an “innocent” White woman exploring her sexuality while using Black women’s culture and bodies as costumes to be tossed once bored and reinforces stereotypes about Black women’s sexuality as “deviant” and ultimately distant from her own, as something “possessing” her during her “coming of age” era as she continues her eat, pray, love syndrome of culture slumming to evolve into peak “experienced” Whiteness when older.

Some Examples of How Black Men Practice Misogynoir Against Black Women

Ignoring and dismissing the Black Woman’s Plight Under The System of Racism White Supremacy (as if Black Men are the only victims of racism).

Leaving Black Women out of the history, struggle, and experience of Black People in America and abroad.

Placing unreasonable standards on Black Women and using these standards to judge whether a Black Woman is a ” Real Queen” (i.e. respectability politics, for example “She’s a ho not a queen ’cause she wears short dresses or likes to twerk”).

Defending the privileged white woman over the disenfranchised and oppressed Black Woman.

Publicly humiliate and degrade Black Women and Girls.

Laughing and or agreeing with racist and anti-misogynist jokes and or comments from White people or anti-black Blacks or poc about Black Women.

Not showing up for sistas in distress or in trouble (i.e., ignoring Black Women and Girls murdered by policeman and or are victims of police brutality…….and much more too numerous to name here.

When and Where Did It Originate: A Brief History

Once upon a time, prior to European influence on ideas of matriarchy and patriarchy, Black Men did not have a problem with Black Women being in positions of power economically, politically or socially. Throughout Africa, societies were matriarchal, but everything was STILL equal between the Black sexes. African men were not subjugated by African Women in any way shape or form. Ancient Egypt was one of many examples of gender equality that WAS once normal in African societies.

Women in Ancient Greek and Roman societies were not permitted to move about freely with out a male escort nor were they permitted equal pay for equal work, equal legal and property rights, education and more. When Greek and Roman Men such as Herodotus and Diodorus visited Egypt they were shocked to find that their was equality between the sexes. These white men misinterpreted the Africans equality of the sexes as practice as women “dominating” men.

Later in history, anti-woman white supremacist thought were instilled via white supremacist programming in black men (and women) during the enslavement of Africans in America and colonialism in Africa via religion and MISeducation. Which leads us to where we are today: the mistreatment of black women and girls based on sex in ALL African communities across the globe.

Given the history of gender equality in African societies, I believe that it IS NOT in the Black Man’s true nature to be sexist and misogynist. It is also NOT Black Women’s true nature to be sexist and misogynist towards ourselves and other Black Women. I know that White Men are the Original sexist/misogynist (that’s why I’m nipping derailments and deflections in the bud now) Sexism and misogyny NOT NATURAL, but’s what natural about the European, LOL.

My concern is not white men and white women; they’re a lost cause. I’m concerned about eliminating sexism/misogyny (misogynoir) in the black community and the Diaspora and returning to our African roots of gender equality:

When are Black People gonna have a serious conversation, if ever about misogynoir? Where and when it originated?

How this harms Black Women, Black Girls, and the Entire Black Community?

When are Black Women gonna start Checking Black Men who Practice misogynoir?

Moreover, the female face of the movement had to be a light-skinned “Redbone.” For example, On March 2, 1955, Claudette Colvin, who was 15 at the time refused to give up her Montgomery Alabama bus seat to a white woman nine months before Rosa Parks refused her seat to a white man. Civil rights leaders threw her under the bus because she was not in her words”light-skinned, with “good hair” and middle class.” In addition, some of these men were not really interested in truly eliminating racism white supremacy to begin with. They had their own agendas, such as one-upping (competing) with the white man (i.e., waiting for a chance at bedding white men’s mothers, sisters and daughters), not really wanting “Black Power” but wanting a taste power of the of the “white male patriarchal kind”, and or just out to fill their pockets under the guise of “Black Power” and “Black Unity”.

These men were shouting with fist in the air ” Fighting the White Man” “Black Unity” and “Black Power” while practicing sexism, misogynoir and colorism just like the very white men they were supposedly fighting against. Unfortunately, this is why some (a minority to be exact) of Black Women within the movement naively joined (out of anger and disappointment/disillusionment) white feminist circles only to find out that while the white feminist were giving lip service about “sisterhood” they didn’t really give a shit about the Black Woman’s TRIPLE struggle against racism white supremacy, sexism and misogyny, and colorism. So while many Black male leaders and activist were “fighting” white supremacy they were being sexist, misogynistic and colorist toward Black Women and focusing ONLY on the Black Man’s plight while ignoring the Black Woman’s plight against not only racism white supremacy but sexism (from everybody), misogynoir (from everybody) and colorism (especially the dark-skinned Black Woman from other black people) while white feminsts were talking about “sisterhood” but ignored their own anti-black racism, anti-black sexism and misogyny toward Black Women and how these three oppressions intersect for Black Women. Black Women just felt disregarded, ignored and neglected by both parties. Again, this is why Huey P. Newton’s ex- girlfriend, Elaine Brown and other women of the Black Power Movement became feminist; misogynoir within the BPM (Black Power Movement) and the hypocrisy of white feminism gave rise to Black Feminism/Black Womanism. Yes, with the research available, I couldn’t help but come to this conclusion.

Now some of us have already started doing so and have started speaking out on the issue, thank goodness, but we still have a looong ways to go.

For Black Women and Girls, Race and Gender Is Intersectional

Intersectionality is a termed coined by Black Feminist scholar Kimberle Crenshaw. Intersectionality (or intersectionalism) refers to the intersections between different systems and forms of oppression, domination, and discrimination. Black Women and Girls suffer from racism (from white people), sexism (from everybody), and colorism (from other Black People, i.e. “Pretty to be a dark skin girl”) simultaneously. Therefore, a Black Woman and Girl can not choose which part of her identity is in need of the most liberating. Many Black Women report that when they talk about experiences with racism white supremacy and misogynoir, many Black men tell them to “just focus on fighting racism” and other Black Women tell them to stop “complaining.” Black Women can’t fight racism white supremacy and ignore misogynoir. We (black men too) can fight both can be fought simultaneously. Black Men/People who say this to silence discussion around this topic are doing Black Women and Girls a disservice, which is itself misogynoir.

Internalized Misogynoir

Internalized sexism is when a woman or girl have involuntarily internalized messages of women and girls as being of the inferior sex whereas men are of the superior sex and women should not hold positions of power economically, politically or socially. Internalized misogyny is when women and girls have internalized stereotypes, hatred, contempt, or dislike for themselves and women and girls, in general. To the contrary, unfortunately, many Black Women and Girls suffer from internalized misogynoir. Internalized misogynoir is when Black Women and Girls have internalized stereotypes, have hatred, contempt, or dislike of other Black Women and Girls.

Some Examples of How Black Women Practice Misogynoir Against Other Black Women and Girls (basically many of the same way many of the men do)

Ignoring and dismissing the Black Woman’s Plight Under The System of Racism White Supremacy (as if Black Men are the only victims of racism).

Leaving Black Women out of the history, struggle, and experience of Black People in America and abroad.

Placing unreasonable standards on other Black Women and using these standards to judge whether a Black Woman is a ” Real Queen” (i.e. respectability politics, for example “She’s a ho not a queen ’cause she wears short dresses or likes to twerk”).

Defending the privileged white woman over the disenfranchised and oppressed Black Woman.

Laughing and or agreeing with racist and anti-misogynist jokes and or comments from White people or anti-black Blacks or poc about Black Women.

Not showing up when other sista(s) is in distress or trouble (i.e. ignoring Black Women and Girls who are murdered by the police and or victims police brutality).

Calling Black Women or girls who are victims of sexual assault “fast-ass girls” (mostly done by older Black Women) or dismissing their stories and experiences with sexual assault…..and much more too numerous to name here.

Feminism for White Women, Womanism for Black Women [In this section, I provided links from Wikipedia to help further explain womanism vs feminism, theories and ideologies]

Feminism is the advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men. From Wikipedia

In the field of literary criticism, Elaine Showalter describes the development of feminist theory as having three phases. The first she calls “feminist critique”, in which the feminist reader examines the ideologies behind literary phenomena. The second Showalter calls “gynocriticism“, in which the “woman is producer of textual meaning”. The last phase she calls “gender theory”, in which the “ideological inscription and the literary effects of the sex/gender system are explored”.[79]

This was paralleled in the 1970s by French feminists, who developed the concept of écriture féminine (which translates as ‘female or feminine writing’).[69]Helene Cixous argues that writing and philosophy are phallocentric and along with other French feminists such as Luce Irigaray emphasize “writing from the body” as a subversive exercise.[69] The work of Julia Kristeva, a feminist psychoanalyst and philosopher, and Bracha Ettinger,[80] artist and psychoanalyst, has influenced feminist theory in general and feminist literary criticismin particular. However, as the scholar Elizabeth Wright points out, “none of these French feminists align themselves with the feminist movement as it appeared in the Anglophoneworld”.[69][81] More recent feminist theory, such as that of Lisa Lucile Owens, has concentrated on characterizing feminism as a universal emancipatory movement.

VS

Womanism is a social theory deeply rooted in the racial and gender oppression of black women. There are varying interpretations on what the term womanist means and efforts to provide a concise and all encompassing definition have only been marginally successful. From Wikipedia

Author and poet Alice Walker is credited with coining the term ‘womanist.’ From the original introduction of womanism as a social perspective, the term has evolved to envelop varied, and sometimes opposing definitions. Linda Hogan asserts that the term womanist has come to represent a feminist of color, specifically black women, since the Feminist Movement has been experienced by many as intrinsically racist.[2] While feminism can be alienating to minorities, womanism allows black women to affirm and celebrate their color and culture in a way that feminism does not.[2] In the words of theorists such as Clenora Hudson-Weems and Alicia Boisnier, Black women struggle to identify with traditional feminism, because they do not identify with the issues that feminism typically advocates.[3] Alternatively, Delores Williams, a womanist theologian, associates womanism with the traditions and activism formed from the conditions, events, meanings and values within the African- American community. Williams further asserts that the task of the Womanist theologian is to embody activism by seeking out the voices of the unheard and the experiences of the neglected. She identifies the distinct difference between the experiences of the black woman and the white woman that makes it difficult to identify with feminism. One of the key components of feminism is to end a woman’s subjugation to her male counterpart, yet there are other oppressive forces that black women face that takes precedence over the perceived subjugation of the black woman by the black man .[2] This represents an expectation and experience of the black woman as one filled with the quest for knowledge, competence, and authority that surpasses the individual, but encompasses the group.[4] This idea of community rather than individuality is further illustrated by the portrayal of a woman as the embodiment of her environment.[1] In this way womanism does not focus indiscriminately on the experiences of black woman, but desires the reconciliation of all people to their spirituality, their relationships with each other, and their relationship with nature.

Womanism has various definitions and interpretations. At its broadest definition, it is a universalist ideology for all women, regardless of color. A womanist is committed to “the survival and wholeness of an entire people, male and female”.[2] Walker’s much cited phrase, “womanist is to feminist as purple is to lavender” suggests that Walker considers feminism as a component of the wider ideological umbrella of womanism.[10] It focuses on the unique experiences, struggles, needs, and desires of not just Black women, but all women of color in addition to critically addressing the dynamics of the conflict between the mainstream feminist, the Black feminist, the African feminist, and the Africana womanist movement.[14] However, there is Black nationalist discourse prevalent within womanist work and for this reason scholars are divided between associating womanism with other similar ideologies such as Black feminism and Africana womanism or taking the stance that the three are inherently incompatible.

Black Feminism

The Black feminism movement was formed in response to the needs of the women who felt racially oppressed by the Women’s Movement and sexually oppressed by the Black Liberation Movement.[15] Black feminist scholars assert that African-American women are doubly disadvantaged in the social, economic, and political sphere, because they face discrimination on the basis of both race and gender.[16] Black women felt that their needs were being ignored by both movements and they struggled to identify with either based on race or gender. African-American women who use the term Black feminism attach a variety of interpretations to it.[17] One such interpretation is that Black feminism addresses the needs of African-American women that the Feminism Movement largely ignores. Feminism, as Black feminist theorist Pearl Cleage defines it, is “the belief that women are full human beings capable of participation and leadership in the full range of human activities—intellectual, political, social, sexual, spiritual, and economic”.[10] With this definition, the feminist agenda can be said to encompass different issues ranging from political rights to educational opportunities within a global context.[10] The Black feminist agenda seeks to streamline these issues and focuses on those that are the most applicable to African-American women.

Africana Womanism

Clenora Hudson-Weems’s Africana womanism arose from a nationalist Africana studies concept. In Africana Womanism: Reclaiming Ourselves, Hudson-Weems explores the limitations of feminist theory and explains the ideas and activism of different African women who have contributed to womanist theory.[18] At its core, Africana womanism rejects feminism because it is set up in a way as to promote the issues of white women over the issues of Black women. Hudson-Weems argues that feminism will never be okay for black women due to the implications of slavery and prejudice.[6] She further asserts that the relationship between a Black man and a Black woman is significantly different from the relationship between a White man and a White woman, because the white woman battles the white man for subjugating her, but the black women battles all oppressive forces that subjugate her, her children, and the black man.[6][19] She further asserts that racism forced African-American men and African-American women to assume unconventional gender roles. In this context, the desire of mainstream feminism to dismantle traditional gender roles becomes inapplicable to the black experience. Unlike womanism,[12] Africana womanism is an ideology designed specifically with women of African descent in mind. It is grounded in African culture and focuses on the unique struggles, needs, and desires of African women. Based on this reasoning, Africana Womanism posits race and class based oppression as far more significant than gender-based oppression.[6]

A Black Woman Blogger From Tumblr states:

Black women didn’t create womanism to one up white or non-black women. We created it because no one cared about our issues and we want white society and our own community to stop treating us like second class citizens, like we’re subhuman. Black women don’t want to battle black men, we want black men to extend the same and compassion towards us as we do them, we want reciprocity. We’re not sidekicks we’re human beings who deserve the same respect you demand.

The meme below is also hateful and divisive and [Side Note: I do agree with the white woman as a witch cause THEY ARE wicked witches, LOL]How It Affects Black Women and Girls and Black Community

Former Leader of the Nation of Islam, the late Elijah Muhammad stated, “A Nation Can Rise No Higher Than Its Woman.”Under the System of Racism White Supremacy, the Original Black Peoples have been (and still is) oppressed, depressed, suppressed, and just rendered powerless. Karl Marx explains that a race’s social position is determined by the position whether superior or inferior that its woman is in. The Original Black Woman, Mother of Civilizations has been (and still is) degraded, demeaned, disrespected, and disregarded, thus the Black Race’s inferior position in the social order. If the Black Community does not protect and defend the Original Black Woman’s huemanity and femininity, than who will?

It’s up to the Original Black Man, the Original Black Woman, and the Black Race to restore the Black Woman back to her proper social status. It’s time for the Black Community to get out the silence, ignorance, resistance, and denial and acknowledge and address this issue head on. Until we do that, we will remain at the mercy of white people and racism white supremacy.

Respect our choices. All of them. You don’t have to like it but you need to respect it. If we choose to wear our natural hair, respect it. If we choose to wear weave, respect it. Stop chastising us for the choices we make for ourselves. Stop policing how we choose to live our lives. Let us be great. Gahdamn.

Stop with the respectability politics. You can’t say you love black women and then pick and choose which black women you’ll respect based on your standards. You still give a black woman respect regardless of how she chooses to live her life. You respect all black women because we are human just like you, not just the ones who wear natural hair, listen to erykah badu and shit.

No means no. If you approach a black woman and she says she’s not interested, oh my fucking god, my nigga, just leave her alone. Move on. Let it go. Please do not persist. Take the rejection gracefully. Don’t call her out name, don’t follow her, don’t assault her. Let her be. She doesn’t owe you an explanation. Her “no” is enough and you will deal my friend.

LISTEN. Bruh, when black women are telling you something you’re doing is harming them, can you put your ego aside and just L I S T E N. Why is that your first reaction is to get defensive? If you love black women like you say you do, wouldn’t you want to know when you’re doing something harmful to them? Stop getting defensive every time a black woman calls out your misogynoir. Stop brushing that off as “bashing black men.” Stop calling black women “shea butter bitches” for calling out how you harm black women. Black women are just asking for empathy at the end of the day. That’s the least you can do.

Stop slut-shaming. Stop shaming black women for their sexuality. Stop calling black women “thots” and all kinds of hoes because her sex life is something YOU disagree with or because she presents herself in a way that conflicts with YOUR standards. Someone’s sexuality has nothing to do with you and you don’t have the right to police what a woman does with her body. Stop reducing a black woman’s worth because you don’t like what she does with HER body.

Understand that our identity intersects. Stop telling black women they have to “pick a side.” Black women aren’t black men or white women’s “side kicks.” We are our own people with our own unique struggle that, yes, may have similarities to BM’s and WW’s struggles, but is not identical to theirs. We are black and we are women. You can’t be an ally to black women and not be intersectional when our existence is the epitome of intersectionality. Black women don’t just experience racial violence, we experience gender violence as well. Stop insisting that we have to divide our identity down the middle to suit you.

Say something when you see black women being attacked. When you see black women being harassed online and offline, do something. Ya’ll gotta start holding each other accountable. Stop @-ing me telling me how terrible it is that I’m being attacked. @ ole dude who’s attacking me. Tell them to stop. Have my back. Intervene in the best possible way you can. Stop allowing the violence against black women to persist right in front of your eyes.

Please kill the “strong black woman” narrative. Placing this title on us constantly, denies us humanity. Black women aren’t allowed to be vulnerable like everyone else. We’re constantly told be strong or we’re written off as only angry and bitter. We’re told how we’re suppose to feel and how to respond to violence against us. Black women are humans. We laugh, we cry, we smile. We can’t be your idea of “strong” all the time.

Show up for black women. Black women consistently show up for everyone else but when it comes time for us, hardly anyone is there to be found. Police brutality doesn’t just happen to black men. Recognize it. Know the names of the many black female victims of state violence. Know their stories. Share their stories. Fight for them like you fight for Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, and Sean Bell. Fight for black women like black women fight for you. Organize and show up for black women. Stop leaving us hanging. Stop expecting our support and giving us little to none in return.

I become enraged when ever I hear Black People, especially, especially “conscious” Black People (and I’m putting emphasis on that) blaming Black Women for the ills of the Black Community with such outrageous statements like, “Black Feminism destroyed the Black Family,” “Black Single Mothers Are Messing Up the Race,” and “The Black Woman has “emasculated” the Black Man.” Many Black Women and I’m one of are just plum freaking tired of Black People with this foolish talk. Black People have ABSOLUTELY NO POWER Under the System Of Racism White Supremacy, so blaming the Black Woman for the Black Community’s ills is inaccurate and illogical in a society that is patriarchal, anti-black, and anti-woman. It will serve the “community” no purpose, but bring about more divisiveness and alienate Black Women. I just don’t understand for Christ’s sake why Black People keep repeating these lies and myths over, and over, and over again. Oh, I do know why……cause of the Black Community’s extreme internalized racism (INTRA-racism) and misogynoir towards the Black Woman.

I think I have an idea of where the origins of this Intra racist, misogynoiristic thinking comes from. Black People take everything that white people tell us at face value, no questions asked……..what white people say is the gospel!

Daniel Moynihan

In 1965, a pale degenerate by the name of Daniel Moynihan (with the help of the U.S. government) released the very deceptive, racist and misogynoiristic Moynihan Report (aka The Negro Family: The Case For National Action). The report used U.S. Labor Statistics basically shifting the blame from the very damaging affects of racism white supremacy on to the POWERLESS Black Woman for the Black Man’s failure to reach his full human potential….“the black woman had substantial advantages over the Black Man educationally, financially, and in employment.” However, at that time the Black Woman was working low paying jobs such as teaching, clerical, and domestic work and was paid less than white men, white women, and Black Men (mind you the gender pay gap STILL exists today). Despite the fact that Black Women are excelling in education, business, and entrepreneurship faster than the Black Man, in a PATRIARCHAL SOCIETY BlACK MEN MAKE MORE MONEY THAN BLACK WOMEN (Umoja, 2011).

Moreover, this deceptive, racist, and misogynoiristic report linked…”the professional and educational advancement of Black Women to high juvenile delinquency levels, high crime levels, poor educational levels for Black Men…”— ignoring the fact that the system of racism white supremacy was and is responsible for the limited educational and financial opportunities afforded to the Black Man causing him to be barred from the home and from being the breadwinner of his family and causing the Black Woman to take up the slack by working outside the home . Furthermore, the report created the myth of the Black Family as a “black matriarchy” dominated by aggressive, dominating, Black Women. Despite the fact that most households at the time was headed by Black Men, who were largely present in the home. Thus, many Black Men ( and now women), in a desperate attempt at seeking psychological relief for their oppression brought into this myth that the Black Woman is a major obstacle to Black Manhood and success, which made the Black Woman (a safer) scapegoat instead of blaming white people and the system of racism white supremacy which is practicing educational, economic, social, political, and psychological warfare against the Black Man. A classic case of as one sista Trojan Pam put it, “Black People blaming other Black People for what the most powerful White People Are Doing to Us” or “victims blaming victims” (p. 333).

There HAS NEVER Been Any Allyship Between White (mainstream) Feminist and Black Feminist/Womanist

In 1925, only three percent of Black households were headed by women. During the Great Depression, Black marriages were higher than white marriages in spite of the fact that on average Black were poorer than whites. Then jobs for low-income blacks were replaced by welfare (which was created for and by white people), crack cocaine, high-powered weapons, the manufactured “war on drugs,” and mandatory non-violent drug offenses causing Black Family stability to take a MAJOR hit. With one million Black Men (many who were fathers) in prison, the Black Woman WAS FORCED to take the lead (Umoja, 2011).

In a male-dominated, anti-woman society, MOST OF NOT ALL societies are patriarchal and the Black Community IS NO EXCEPTION. Black Women heading 70% of Black Household doesn’t even matter cause this situation was created by social and economic racism, NOT BY CHOICE OF EITHER THE BLACK MAN OR WOMAN. In this society most men reject women in leadership, and BLACK MEN ARE NO EXCEPTION (i.e. Like most churches or religious denominations, the Black Church and other Black Organizations DOES NOT CARE TOO MUCH ABOUT FEMALES IN LEADERSHIP). Most women themselves prefer male leadership over female leadership and Black Women are NO EXCEPTION. Black Men usually DO NOT FOLLOW Black Women, but Black Women DO FOLLOW Black Men. For example, the preacher, the politician, and the pimp, therefore whether its the church, the street corner or the hall meeting, Black Men lead, Black Women follow, thus Black Women are usually the foot soldiers and seldom the lead (with a few exceptions) in most Black organizations. THAT’S A FACT (p. 333).

Black Women Felt Left Out of Both Movements

In Black People Can’t Have A Freaking Movement Without In-Fighting and Divisiveness, I discussed the rampant misogynoir within the 1960s Black Power Movement. While some Black Women continued to work within the movement and chose to remain (and suffer) in silence about the sexism, misogyny, and colorism others became disillusioned and disappointed at the msiogynoiristic and colorist behaviors of the prominent and non-prominent Black Man leaders and activist overlooking the Black Woman’s plight and only focusing on the Black Man’s plight. These sistas naively joined white feminist circles only to find that while the racist, anti-black misogynist, feminist white women gave lip service to “sisterhood” they were only focused on the white woman’s needs and interest; overlooking the fact that race and gender intersect in sexism and misogyny toward Black Women. Due to the misogynoir and racism within White (mainstream) Feminism circles and misogynoir and colorism within the Black Power Movement, Black Women created their own distinctive type of feminism called womanism, a social theory rooted in the racial and gender oppression of Black Women, specifically.

Black Feminist/Womanist and Black Women (who do not specifically call them sevles feminist and or womanist) who follow Black Feminist/Womanist ideaology make it clear that :

They DO NOT wish to seek allyship with white feminist and are ONLY specifically concerned about the safety and well-being Black Women and girls, not white/non-black women .

White Feminism IS NOT for Black Women.

The racism and anti-black misogyny perpetuated by white feminist towards black women is why womanism was created which is distinctive from white (mainstream) feminism.

As one Black Feminist/Womanist explains:

Feminism in the form that it is currently in + how it exists in the mainstream: prioritizes the voices of white women. (White) feminism as it is right now is not fit to deal with the complexities of WoC experience. Look at how white feminists consistently derail/dismiss the realities of black women. They do not want to acknowledge their own privileges. In their view “we’re pitting women against each other”. Because calling out the racism practiced by white women is anti-female solidarity. FFS!!

Despite these clear declarations, the Black Community still ain’t trying to hear it and continues to spout foolishness that these sistas are “agents of white supremacy” and are “anti-black man” and “divisive” despite the fact that many Black Women feminist/womanist or Black Women in general could give two shits about white men and white people.

This IS NOT What Black Feminism/Womanism Is About. This meme is divisive and misogynoirist.

Let’s be real here if this wasn’t an anti-woman patriarchal society the concept of feminism and in Black Women’s case womanism would not exist. To be Black, a Woman, and a feminist/womanist in the Black Community is a cardinal sin. LOL. Despite the Black Community’s claims that Black Feminist/Womanist are “anti-black family,” “anti-Black Man,” “divisive,” and are “agents of white supremacy” many Black feminist/womanist have fought and are still fighting the good fight against ALL social injustices towards ALL Black People including racism white supremacy, sexism, anti-black misogyny (misogynoir), classism, abelism, and other forms of discrimination and prejudices.Yes, Black Women Can Fight More Than One social Injustice At The Same Time. Ask veteran Black Women civil/human rights activist and feminist/womanist, Ida B. Wells, Frances E. Harper, Sojourner Truth, Angela Davis, Rosa Parks, Fannie Lou Hamer, Assata Shakur and many more.

What the Black Community also fail to Overstand is that many of these Black Feminist/ Womanist also fiercely challenged mainstream (white) feminism’s refusal to acknowledge and challenge the sexism and misogyny (misogynoir) that factor in descrimination towards Black Women, specifically and other forms of oppression. Not to mention, these sistas pointed out how mainstream (white) feminist failed to acknowledge and correct their own anti-black misogynist, white supremacist attitudes and behaviors towards Black Women. According to Sharon in “Black Feminism and Intersectionality,”

Because of the historic role of slavery and racial segregation in the United States, the development of a unified women’s movement requires recognizing the manifold implications of this continuing racial divide. While all women are oppressed as women, no movement can claim to speak for all women unless it speaks for women who also face the consequences of racism—which place women of color disproportionately in the ranks of the working class and the poor. Race and class therefore must be central to the project of women’s liberation if it is to be meaningful to those women who are most oppressed by the system.

Indeed, one of the key weaknesses of the predominantly white US feminist movement has been its lack of attention to racism, with enormous repercussions. Failure to confront racism ends up reproducing the racist status quo.

When Black Boys grow into dysfunctional, angry, and irresponsible Black Men the Black Community immediately blames single Black Mothers. There is NO BLAME place upon MBD (Missing Black Daddies) as if Black Women can perform immaculate conceptions (i.e., virgin birth). People automatically assume that the mother wanted to be single not asking and or considering if divorce (or death) has occured (some sistas don’t start out as single mothers) or if the father just walked out or decided that he did not want to take responsibility for his child(ren).

Lies, INTRA-Racism and Misogynoir

“There’s more Black Men in prison than in college!” Another big white lie Black People continuously repeat. Despite, systematic institutionalized racism white supremacy the truth is that THERE ARE MORE BLACK MEN IN COLLEGE THAN IN PRISON. Again, as stated earlier in this post, brothas make more money than sistas despite sistas outpacing Black Men in education, business, and entrepreneurship. So, Black Men are doing just fine considering the circumstances under the system of racism white supremacy.

Black Men’s “emasculation” occurred as a result of a racist social and economic system that began when the first Africans stepped on these shores in 1619. White men made damn sure the Black Man could not protect his wife, daughters, sisters and other female relatives from his degenerate predatory and pedophile ass and provide a descent living for himself and his family. White supremacy racism is at the root of ALL the Black Community’s ills. Daniel Moynihan didn’t include these facts in the report, Why would he?

Given all the evidence highlighted from the sources I provided within this post, Black Feminst/Womanist, Black Single Mothers and Black Women in general ARE NOT responsible for the destruction of the Black Family or the “emasculation” of the Black Man. Black Women being successful in education, business, and entrepreneurship does not “destroy” the family nor does it “emasculate” the Black Man.These claims have AbSOLUTELY NO BASIS IN FACT and are rooted first in the the racists, misogynoiristic lies of white America and the Black Community’s internalized racism (INTRA-racism) and misogynoir towards the Black Woman. So with all that said the BLACK COMMUNITY NEED TO GET THE FUCK OUTTA HERE WITH THIS BULLSHIT!!!

T.I. has finally parted wayswith his breakout star.What took him so long?

In 2011, when radio and television personality Charlamagne Tha God said that Iggy Azalea — then a fresh off the success of “Pussy” — was gonna be a star, I scoffed. Where he saw potential, I saw an explicit marketing ploy with little sustainability or long term success.

Iggy Azalea featured on the venerable XXL Freshman cover (2012) I saw the gentrification of hip hop where white artists with some edge would be pushed before audiences before the audience pushed back. I saw cultural appropriation and cooptation, inauthenticity, and an obvious — if not desperate — attempt to turn a quick profit.

While I was clear in my interpretation of the Australian born rapper, others were not.

“Fancy,” her record breaking single, dominated airwaves in 2014. Clear Channel, the biggest radio outlet in the country, included her in…

Have you noticed that whenever black males “crossover” in Hollywood films that black females are usually absent? At best we may be background noise but never women of any importance or substance.

Actors like Morgan Freeman, Vin Diesel, Samuel L. Jackson, Lawrence Fishburne, Will Smith, Danny Glover, Cuba Gooding are almost NEVER paired with a black female especially if that black male is an attractive, smart, brave, educated professional male.

The black male actor is almost always engaged in saving white girls, white females or white humanity. The black male actor — with a tiny number of exceptions — is NEVER engaged in saving black girls, black children, black women, or black humanity in general.

The list of these movies is FAR too long for me to attempt that here but suffice…

Cultural appropriation is when somebody adopts aspects of a culture that’s not their own.

But that’s only the most basic definition.

A deeper understanding of cultural appropriation also refers to a particular power dynamic in whichmembers of a dominant culture take elements from a culture of people who have been systematically oppressed by that dominant group.

That’s why cultural appropriation is not the same as cultural exchange, when people share mutually with each other – because cultural exchange lacks that systemic power dynamic.

It’s also not the same as assimilation, when marginalized people adopt elements of the dominant culture in order to survive conditions that make life more of a struggle if they don’t.

For many people, barriers like classism, racism, and xenophobia mean they don’t have the right look, language, or position of privilege to earn income with their culturally specific tools – and…

Man, I tell ya the KarTRASHshian girls got it made. They’re white, rich, and Whites and the black “community” allows them to get away with their racism and appropriation of Black Womanhood. On top of that not only do they have them an army of coon negro males ready to defend them at all costs, they have an army of mammy mules too. It is rumored that they called their black female helpers “Aunt Jamimas,” but that doesn’t stop coon negro males and their mammy mule female counterparts from defending massa’a daughters instead of their own Black sistas. *smfh* Check the conversation below between a black female blogger and one of her anonymous readers:

Anonymous Asked: So my store manager is black and has decided to just go to coachella. She doesn’t know what it is but she’s gonna pay $1K for a ticket and then fly to California from Florida only because she found out that Kylie and Kendall Jenner go every year. She says she doesn’t care what anyone says she loves them and she’s going to coachella for them.

Blogger’s Response:

“She doesn’t know what it is but she’s gonna pay $1K for a ticket and then fly to California from Florida only because she found out that Kylie and Kendall Jenner go every year. She says she doesn’t care what anyone says she loves them and she’s going to coachella for them.”

Ask her what black women does she love equally and I bet the black women are polar opposites.

I’m disappointed in your store manager. She’s not uncommon among black women though. Plenty black women put the Kardashians on a pedestal but tear down black women just like them. Some black women live vicariously through these types of white women.

TiredSista’s Response: Black Women like me and Blogger are getting tired of these mammified Black Women too. They’re just as rampant as these coon males. I discussed this mammy mule mentality among too many Black Women in my post Of Mammies and Mules: The Mammy Mule Brainwashing of the American Black Woman. They’re just a problematic as their Negro Coon male counterparts; a detriment to the plight of the Original Black Woman and the Black Diaspora. Mind you these are the same Black Women who bitch, cry and moan about white/non-black women “stealing” all the Black Men while caping for massa’s daughters at the same time. Damn, they can’t have it both ways. We’re tired and starting to call out these type of Black Women too.

We are told to celebrate the 4th of July a day supposedly to honor and embrace freedom, which we have yet to receive. They also want us not to forget 911 and remember the Holocaust, but remarkably “they” don’t want to remember slavery or the sins of their fathers. So on this day, let’s remember the slaves who built America. And that’s my thought provoking perspective…